Wolf management bill gets unanimous vote in Oregon Senate

SALEM — Oregon lawmakers found common ground Thursday on at least one issue: wolves.

The Senate gave unanimous approval to House Bill 3452, which sets up a plan for managing the growing number of gray wolves that have made their home in the mountains, ranges and ranchland of Eastern Oregon.

Under the bill, ranchers would be able to kill a protected wolf if they catch it in the act of biting, wounding or killing one of their livestock. Wolves also could be killed if found guilty of “chronic predation” on livestock but only after nonlethal methods to deter them are tried first.

Oregon should be the guiding light for all states in how to deal with wolves. Non-lethal methods prioritized, a realistic recognition of human-wolf conflicts and a bill that manages to unify politicians – a rare feat these days.